October 3-5, 2019 at the Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

Earn up to 21 contact hours (including pre-conference workshops).

Senior Report: Older Americans have more options for home care, but still struggling.

The United Health Foundation has released results of a sweeping new study benchmarking the health of older adults. The America's Health Rankings® Senior Report was created in partnership with GAPNA to improve the health of America's seniors.

The data will help advanced practice nurses and other providers deliver quality care.

New for GAPNA members: MCM Education

GAPNA has partnered with a MCM Education to offer an ongoing series of CNE programs available to GAPNA members. "Diagnosing and Managing Parkinson’s Disease in Older Adults," is the latest program offered.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by both motor and nonmotor symptoms. It is diagnosed based on the presence of two of four motor symptoms including rest tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and gait imbalance...

FREE continuing education credit is available for the following session:

"Dementia Management Update"

(session captured at the GAPNA 2018 Annual Conference)

Advanced Care Planning

National Healthcare Decision Day

by Michelle Moccia

National Healthcare Decision Day is celebrated every year in April to educate, inspire, and empower individuals to address their own personal choice for end-of-life (EOL) care.

Once again GAPNA Great Lakes Chapter (GLC) members (Holly Favero, Maria Contreras, Diane Stempek, Michelle Moccia) helped plan, facilitate, and sponsor the event with St. Mary Mercy Hospital Livonia (SMML) on Tuesday, April 16. This year we partnered with Livonia Homeland Security. This joint venture allowed us to combine the importance of emergency planning for vulnerable older adults along with discussing EOL wishes. Attendees were provided with the knowledge and tools needed to build a basic disaster emergency kit, including a conversation kit for EOL talks.

The 2-hour event began with the video "The Boat Lift" narrated by Tom Hanks. This was an incredible story of the boat rescue of individuals stranded on Manhattan Island following the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. The program included a reflection, emergency disaster preparedness wisdom to plan for catastrophes from Homeland Security, FEMA, "Just Do One Thing", followed by an interactive exercise around advance directives (AD). Participants received information on the importance of EOL planning.

Everyone received the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Conversation Project Conversation Starter Kit on a flash drive. This kit was developed to help people discuss what matters with them to their loved ones if they cannot speak for themselves.

Individuals rotated through stations including 911 emergency preparedness (Red Cross, Livonia Fire, Livonia Police, 911 dispatcher), basic emergency responder disaster building kit, and EOL planning that included education on completing an AD document and the importance of storing information to help prepare for what needs to be done post death.

Participants received many starter items to begin building an emergency kit that included water bottles, first aid kit, emergency blanket (GAPNA GLC donation), utensils, snacks, hand warmers, flashlights, emergency preparedness lists, emergency Just Do One Thing calendar, pet information, Auto Zone preparedness station, and other disaster supplies. Each participant received a tote bag to collect supplies embedded with an emergency checklist. Livonia City Channel also captured the event which will be aired in the near future.